UK Universities Face 18 Days Of Staff Strike Before April

Universities in the UK will be hit with 18 days of walkouts in February and March, in an “unprecedented” escalation of a long-running dispute that has caused months of disruption for students, Bethan Stanton reported for the Financial Times.

Photo Insert: The University and College Union (UCU) announced that more than 70,000 staff at 150 universities would strike for 18 days from next month in disputes over pay, insecure contracts, and cuts to retirement benefits in UK higher education.

The University and College Union (UCU), which represents academics and some administrative staff, announced that more than 70,000 staff at 150 universities would strike for 18 days from next month in disputes over pay, insecure contracts, and cuts to retirement benefits in UK higher education.

“Today our union came together to back an unprecedented program of escalating strike action,” UCU general secretary Jo Grady said.

“The clock is now ticking for the sector to produce a deal or be hit with widespread disruption throughout spring.”

The strike decision comes after the union rejected an improved offer by the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) of a pay raise between 4% and 7%, with the most generous increases for the lowest-paid staff. UCU said the offer was “not enough.”

The union’s decision-making committee also agreed to re-allot staff on the possibility of further action “well into 2023.” Discussions within the union have considered the possibility of calling an indefinite strike in an attempt to bring the years-long dispute to a close.

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